A Review of “Understanding Intercultural Communication”

Introduction

Today, hundreds of unique cultures exist on the planet, and they are espoused by millions of people who promote and develop them further. Thus, cultural diversity is an essential part of the modern world which constitutes a challenge for those who have chosen to fulfill the Great Commission. In a situation when a Christian decides to engage in ministry in a foreign country, the skill of intercultural communication becomes especially important for them. The book by Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung called “Understanding Intercultural Communication” provides an invaluable insight into the basic principles governing intercultural communication. The book contains a variety of useful pieces of advice which can considerably aid people in their ministry abroad. The book maintains an excellent balance between theoretical concepts and practical tips, which ultimately contribute to the reader’s understanding of intercultural communication and the right approach to it. The authors go into detail writing about cultural conflicts and the ways to resolve them, as well as about cultural value patterns which are different for various peoples. The amount of information shared by Ting-Toomey and Chung in the book is sufficient for anyone who is going on a ministry mission and wants to gain knowledge about the correct behavior abroad. Thus, “Understanding Intercultural Communication” is relevant for individuals fulfilling their Great Commission because it teaches them to be flexible, be aware of differences of individualistic and collectivist cultures, and manage cultural shock and conflicts.

Ethnorelative Mindset

As mentioned earlier, the book has an extensive assortment of insights which are particularly beneficial for people pursuing their ministry, and the first of them concerns the importance of flexibility in the intercultural context. There are several factors which promote flexibility, but the main one is the necessity to discard the ethnocentric mindset and embracing the ethnorelative one by becoming aware of the communication partner’s perspective.¹. In other words, a person willing to engage in the act of intercultural communication must not impose their worldview on the individual whose cultural background is radically different from their own. The concept of an ethnorelative mindset is especially important for ministry in an intercultural environment. Successful fulfillment of the Great Commission is possible only when a missionary treats others as their peers and not as students who have to be taught a lesson. I am planning to implement the ethnorelative mindset in my future ministry since it will help me foster a better friendship with representatives of other cultures.

Collectivist and Individualistic Cultures

Another essential piece of knowledge related to intercultural communication shared by the authors of “Understanding Intercultural Communication” is the differences between individualistic and collectivist cultures. Namely, representatives of individualistic cultures value individual competition, personal competence, privacy, and direct communication, while people belonging to collectivist cultures prefer teamwork, “we” identity, relational harmony, and indirect communication². Thus, each culture on the planet can be roughly defined as an individualistic or collectivist one which significantly facilitates the process of developing a correct approach to certain people. Such basic difference between cultures also implies the necessity to introduce various methods of communicating to individuals depending on their background. In the context of ministry, an understanding of such cultural distinctions will help me find effective strategies in my work. For instance, if I become an English language teacher in a collectivist culture, I will give my students tasks which are based on team efforts rather than on individual activity.

Culture Shock

The problem of culture shock can be inevitable when venturing abroad on a ministry mission, yet it is essential to deal with it correctly since otherwise, it may provoke negative emotions. In the book in question, the authors provide several tips on how to manage a culture shock, but the main ones include working on tolerance for ambiguity and increasing motivation to learn³. Essentially, a person immersed in an intercultural context must not become amazed by the aspects of the life of other people but accept them as a norm and be constantly willing to embrace novelty. There is no doubt that in my future ministry abroad, I will encounter certain phenomena inherent to other cultures which will be not only new but may appear strange to me. Yet, by developing my ambiguity tolerance and being able to motivate myself to learn about such phenomena, I will be able to reduce the effect of a culture shock.

Intercultural Conflicts

Situations involving conflicts are not rare in an intercultural context, and a person who is planning to fulfill their Great Commission must be prepared to manage them effectively. Cultural empathy is the primary element which should be taken into consideration when resolving conflicts since it constitutes the ability to accurately understand the self-experiences of the other party⁴. Additionally, it involves discarding all prejudices and stereotypes, asking for clarifications, and capturing the core meaning conveyed by the communication partner. Every Christian considers it their obligation to treat other people with empathy and respect, and in intercultural communication, it becomes particularly important. The concept of cultural empathy helped me understand that when communicating with people representing other cultures, one should always be willing to learn about their unique personal experiences and perspectives. Thus, in my future ministry, intercultural conflicts may occur quite often, and the key to resolving them in a Christian manner is to always consider the other party’s beliefs and feelings.

Nonverbal Communication

Nonverbal communication is a significant part of the process of intercultural communication and one which should be carefully considered before use. Out of all forms of nonverbal communication, facial expressions are the most universal ones and are generally accurately recognized across all countries, especially those reflecting sadness, happiness, disgust, fear, anger, surprise, and interest⁵. Thus, other types of nonverbal communication, such as gestures and haptics, should be avoided since they may have different meanings in various cultures. In my future ministry, I am planning to communicate with people whose languages will be difficult for me to understand. The book helped me gain a better understanding of the effective use of nonverbal elements, and I will rely on the basic facial expressions. Therefore, I will use such nonverbal forms of communication in during future ministry in order to earn respect among the locals, which will enhance my ability to fulfill the Great Commission.

Conclusion

To conclude, the book “Understanding Intercultural Communication” is excellent reading for all people wanting to fulfill the Great Commission abroad. The book teaches one to be flexible when communicating with representatives of other cultures. It provides tips on how to manage a cultural shock and overcome it, preventing possible negative effects which are inherent to this phenomenon. The book also lets readers gain insight into the basic differences between individualistic and collectivist cultures and the right approach to each of them. Finally, it presents a framework for resolving cultural conflicts and delivers information on the correct use of nonverbal communication. Thus, the book “Understanding Intercultural Communication” is relevant for people pursuing their ministry and willing to engage in intercultural communication.

Bibliography

Ting-Toomey, Stella and Leeva C. Chung. 2012. Understanding Intercultural Communication. New York: Oxford University Press.

Footnotes

1. Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung, Understanding Intercultural Communication (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 28.
2. Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung, Understanding Intercultural Communication (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 47.
3. Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung, Understanding Intercultural Communication (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 98.
4. Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung, Understanding Intercultural Communication (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 201.
5. Stella Ting-Toomey and Leeva C. Chung, Understanding Intercultural Communication (New York: Oxford University Press, 2012), 138.